MMA News
Kayla Harrison open to fights against Cris Cyborg and Amanda Nunes
Adam Martin - November 26, 2020
PFL lightweight champion Kayla Harrison says she is open to fights against Cris Cyborg and Amanda Nunes in the near future. Harrison is one of the most dominant female fighters in the sport right now, so it’s only natural to think about her fighting the other elite women fighters in the sport. Harrison is coming off of a featherweight win in Invicta FC but plans on moving back to PFL in 2021 to compete in another tournament. After that, Harrison could find herself fighting for some of the other top promotions in the sport including the UFC or Bellator. It’s in those promotions that she can fight the other top talent.
Gina Mazany expects to put the flyweight division on notice with a stoppage win over Rachael Ostovich
Cole Shelton - November 26, 2020
Gina Mazany is making the drop down to 125-pounds. Mazany has been a bantamweight in the UFC for a long time, but at UFC Vegas 15 will make her return to flyweight to take on Rachael Ostovich. When Mazany informed the UFC of her move down in weight, she didn’t think of any opponent but was interested in the idea of fighting Ostovich but doesn’t know what to expect given she hasn’t fought in nearly two years.
Scott Coker teases Douglas Lima vs. Neiman Gracie
Adam Martin - November 26, 2020
Bellator president Scott Coker suggested that promotional welterweight champion Douglas Lima could take on Neiman Gracie in his next fight. Lima recently moved up to middleweight in a failed effort to become a two-division champion in Bellator when he lost a unanimous decision to Gegard Mousasi. Lima is expected to move back to 170lbs for his next fight, and fighters such as Michael Page and Lorenz Larkin have been teased as potential opponents. But it looks like Bellator has another fight in mind for Lima following his recent loss to Mousasi.
Anthony Smith admits he "got off track," expects to start another title run at UFC Vegas 15
Cole Shelton - November 26, 2020
Anthony Smith is looking to go on another title run starting Saturday night. When Smith made the move to light heavyweight, he immediately had success. He knocked out Rashad Evans and Shogun Rua and submitted Volkan Oezdemir to earn a title shot against Jon Jones. However, he was dominated by “Bones” and has since gone 1-2 since then but is coming off two brutal losses to Glover Teixeira and Aleksandar Rakic.
Scott Coker says Patricio Pitbull would KO Alexander Volkanovski
Adam Martin - November 26, 2020
Bellator president Scott Coker says that his featherweight champion Patricio Pitbull would KO the UFC champion Alexander Volkanovski. Coker has said that he believes Pitbull is the best featherweight in MMA right now, and there’s certainly an argument to be made that he is. The Brazilian is riding a six-fight win streak that includes wins over the likes of Michael Chandler, Juan Archuleta, Daniel Weichel, and in his last fight, Pedro Carvalho. Since Pitbull is in Bellator and not in the UFC, most fans and media would likely say that Volkanovski is still the top dog at 145lbs right now. But Pitbull is absolutely right there in the conversation.
Video | Derrick Lewis roasts Curtis Blaydes in hilarious UFC promo
Harry Kettle - November 26, 2020
UFC heavyweight Derrick Lewis has taken part in one of the most hilariously sarcastic interviews you’re likely to see from an MMA fighter. It’s important to find the right balance in mixed martial arts between not taking yourself too seriously and remaining focused on the task at hand. Lewis has been able to work within those limits very well over the course of the last few years, and he isn’t going to stop heading into his highly anticipated bout against Curtis Blaydes this weekend.
Dustin Poirier discusses options for Michael Chandler's UFC debut
Tom Taylor - November 26, 2020
Dustin Poirier believes Michael Chandler should get a tough test in his UFC debut—somebody like recent lightweight title challenger Justin Gaethje. Chandler, the former Bellator lightweight champion, signed with the UFC earlier this year, but has yet to take his first steps into the Octagon. That being said, it sounds like he will do so in the very near future.
Ben Askren responds to challenge from Jake Paul
Tom Taylor - November 26, 2020
Former Bellator and ONE welterweight champ Ben Askren has responded to a challenge from YouTube star turned boxer, Jake Paul. Paul is slated to box former NBA player Nate Robinson on the main card of this Saturday’s Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. card. Ahead of the fight, the YouTuber set his sights on future fights with Askren, Jorge Masvidal, and Conor McGregor.
Scott Coker calls Cris Cyborg the female Mike Tyson, wants Amanda Nunes rematch
Adam Martin - November 26, 2020
Bellator president Scott Coker called Cris Cyborg the female Mike Tyson and said he wants to book a cross-promotion bout with Amanda Nunes. Coker has promoted Cyborg for years in Strikeforce and now in Bellator and he has always called her the greatest women’s fighter of all time. For many years it was hard to argue that, but when Cyborg was KOed by Nunes at UFC 232, most believe that Nunes took the title of female GOAT. Coker, however, has remained steadfast that Cyborg is still the best in the world. But the only way we would find that out is if she fought Nunes again and beat her, and that won’t happen with Nunes still in the UFC.
Rachael Ostovich wary that she could be cut with UFC Vegas 15 loss
Tom Taylor - November 26, 2020
UFC flyweight star Rachael Ostovich recognizes that she could be cut from the promotion is she comes up short in her next fight. Ostovich is slated to return to the Octagon at UFC Vegas 15 this weekend when she takes on Gina Mazany. The Hawaiian will enter this fight having not fought since she was submitted by Paige VanZant all the way back in January 2019. That loss, meanwhile, was preceded by a submission loss to Montana De La Rosa.
Anthony Smith explains what he's changed to correct two-fight skid
Tom Taylor - November 26, 2020
Anthony Smith has made a few changes heading into his UFC Vegas 15 co-headlining battle with fellow light heavyweight contender Devin Clark. Smith, who was previously ranked among the top-5 in the UFC light heavyweight division, has recently fallen on hard times, losing back-to-back fights. The first of those two losses occurred in May, when he was thrashed to a fifth-round TKO loss by Glover Teixeira. The second occured in August, when he was thumped to a decision loss by Aleksandar Rakic.
Pro fighters make their picks for Curtis Blaydes vs. Derrick Lewis
Cole Shelton - November 26, 2020
In the main event of UFC Vegas 15, a pivotal heavyweight bout headlines the card as Curtis Blaydes takes on Derrick Lewis. Heading into the fight, Blaydes is a -400 favorite while “The Black Beast” is a +300 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The majority of pros believe it will be Blaydes using his wrestling to get his hand raised.
Derrick Lewis explains why he wants to fight Conor McGregor next: “Every interview he’s been calling me out”
Harry Kettle - November 26, 2020
UFC heavyweight Derrick Lewis has jokingly suggested that he will be calling out none other than Conor McGregor for his next fight after this weekend. It’s safe to say that Lewis is one of the most entertaining fighters in the Ultimate Fighting Championship today, and as we look ahead to his future, it doesn’t appear as if that trend is going to stop anytime soon.
Video | Reddit MMA poster reveals behind-the-scenes look at being in the corner of Mike Perry at UFC 255
Adam Martin - November 25, 2020
A poster on Reddit MMA revealed himself to be in the corner of Mike Perry at UFC 255 and shared a behind-the-scenes look at the experience. In October, Perry took to social media to announce that he would be auctioning off one of his corner spots at UFC 255 to the highest bidder. UFC middleweight Darren Till was among those who tried to get in on the action, but eventually, Perry found a private seller and sold his corner spot. Although UFC president Dana White said that Perry wouldn’t be allowed to sell his spot in the corner, it turns out that he did it anyway.
Curtis Blaydes believes Derrick Lewis "only has one punch, almost like Ngannou"
Cole Shelton - November 25, 2020
Curtis Blaydes believes Derrick Lewis is very predictable. In the main event of UFC Vegas 15, Blaydes and Lewis will finally meet after trash-talking each other for quite some time. It is a very intriguing matchup and one many are looking forward to. For many pundits, they believe it will either be Lewis by knockout or Blaydes will use his wrestling to dominate the fight, yet Blaydes is not impressed by Lewis’ skill.
Jake Paul calls out Conor McGregor, Jorge Masvidal, and Ben Askren: "They’re going to get the smoke"
Cole Shelton - November 25, 2020
Jake Paul will return to the boxing ring against former NBA All-Star, Nate Robinson in the co-main event of the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. undercard. Although Paul is just 1-0 as a pro boxer, where he knocked out another YouTuber, the 23-year-old is extremely confident in his skills. Paul says he has been training with WBC and WBA champions and has been doing well.
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship "not interested" in signing Anderson Silva
Cole Shelton - November 25, 2020
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship will not be trying to sign Anderson Silva. Back on Halloween night, Silva made the walk to the Octagon for the final time and lost by TKO to Uriah Hall. Since the event, Dana White has been adamant that was the last time the Brazilian would compete for the UFC. It was then revealed he was released from his contract. With him now being a free agent, the former middleweight champion made it clear he was looking to fight again.
Video | Dana White hands Deiveson Figueiredo 50k in cash, admits he "f*cked up" not giving bonus for UFC 255
Adam Martin - November 25, 2020
UFC president Dana White handed UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo $50,000 in cash and admitted he snubbed him of a bonus at UFC 255. Figueiredo had an incredible performance at UFC 255 last weekend as he submitted challenger Alex Perez in the first round with a guillotine choke for his first official title defense. Following the event, the UFC handed out its customary post-fight bonuses. Winning “Performance of the Night” was Antonina Shevchenko and Joaquin Buckley, and “Fight of the Night” went to Sasha Palatnikov and Louis Cosce. Somehow, White didn’t give Figueiredo a bonus despite having a great finish in a title fight. He was snubbed.